We are constantly seeing broadcasters embracing
mutliple platforms to accompany many programmes
on television, particularly in sport. This is where the
greatest growth and most exciting innovations appear
to be happening in the transmedia world.
Our judges were most impressed by the work
undertaken by Canada’s LVL Studio in developing a
live TV sports companion app for tablets, smartphone
and desktop browsers for CBC’s Hockey Night in
Canada. This is the longest-running sports
programme in history and is consequently one of the
most popular in a country that’s obsessed with ice
hockey.
A range of special features enables users to make
predictions on matches, and then compare them with
their friends’ predictions. These features make the
app thoroughly immersive and engaging. A wealth of
data-driven info cards provides context for the user,
while realtime interactive quizzes add to users’
participation scores. There is additional content with,
for example, feeds of Getty sports images and
additional video.
Our judges said this is an excellent example of a
second screen app adding value to the main television
event and they highlighted the range of unique
interactive features.
Highly commended
Turner Sports
NCAA March Madness Live
Turner Sports developed an extensive portfolio of
transmedia applications for the 2013 NCAA March
Madness that allowed viewers to watch coverage of
matches on the move on smartphones and tablets,
while at the same time providing extensive additional
information and applications with social sharing. Our
judges said this was a polished, professional and
comprehensive transmedia offer.
The judges’ attention was caught by an E-book
produced by Radio Free Asia which was given the top
award in our production technology category.
Remembering Tiananmen was released on 4 June,
the 24th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square
massacre. It is the first fully interactive book produced
by the Washington DC-based broadcaster for the
tablet market.
The E-book contains audio eyewitness accounts,
historic “RFA exclusive” photography and video as
well as archive news photography. These are paired
with specially commissioned articles, custom maps,
graphics and timelines.
With access to RFA’s website restricted in
mainland China, short wave broadcasts jammed and
other filters hampering access to the broadcaster’s
output, the E-book has the potential to circumvent the
Great Firewall of China - once it has been downloaded
on to a tablet device, it can be shared easily among
friends, relations and colleagues.
Judges said that they can see many potential
applications of this idea in bringing new media to a
wider audience with the simple, old school concept of
giving them a book. They were impressed by the
wealth of material in RFA’s E-book and how the
material had been organised.
Highly commended
TVE
Mapping 2012 - News Summary
This is clearly a technical and production achievement
said one of our judges about Mapping 2012, an R&D
project at TVE. Presenting images and stories from
the year to find out what stuck in audiences’ minds is
a clever concept and it could be adopted as a way to
present news in the future.
Transmedia production
LVL Studio
Innovative production
technology
Radio Free Asia
AIBs
2013
46
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ISSUE 1 2014
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THE CHANNEL
